Sewing Machine Operators pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,930 a year or less, while the top 10% make $50,720 or more. The middle half of sewing machine operators in Fargo earn between $33,330 and $42,110.
- $28K10th
- $33K25th
- $36KMedian
- $42K75th
- $51K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18.27 |
| Median | $35,730 | $2,978 | $17.18 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $33,330 | $2,778 | $16.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $42,110 | $3,509 | $20.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Sewing Machine Operators pay in Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Sewing machine operators in Fargo earn about the same as the North Dakota average ($38,150) and about the same as the U.S. average ($37,600). At the median the gap is -3% against the U.S. median of $36,670.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $38,000 | $35,730 | $27,930 | $50,720 | 70 |
| North Dakota | $38,150 | $35,700 | $27,950 | $55,080 | 110 |
| United States | $37,600 | $36,670 | $27,860 | $47,840 | 104,880 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Sewing Machine Operators salary after taxes in Fargo
On the average salary of $38,000, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $32,713 a year, or $2,726 a month and $1,258 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $32,713 | $2,726 |
| Working in MN | $31,499 | $2,625 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for sewing machine operators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $38,000 buys what about $41,818 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Sewing Machine Operators salary in nearby metro areas
- Minneapolis, MN$43,180
- Duluth, MN$39,230
- Sioux Falls, SD$40,810
- Sioux City, IA$35,360
- La Crosse, WI$37,790
- Wausau, WI$38,460
Highest-paying cities for sewing machine operators
Appleton, WI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($51,830).
- Appleton, WI$51,830
- Bend, OR$47,980
- San Jose, CA$47,860
- Santa Cruz, CA$47,460
- San Francisco, CA$46,380
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Sewing Machine Operators salary in Fargo: questions
How much do sewing machine operators make an hour in Fargo?
$18.27 an hour on average, and $17.18 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sewing machine operators salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $27,930 a year and the 25th percentile is $33,330, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sewing machine operators take-home pay in Fargo?
About $32,713 a year ($2,726 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $38,000.
Do sewing machine operators earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($37,600).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 51-6031; area Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.67, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.67).
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.